Page 18 - The Hunt - Winter 2022

meat the day before Christmas. It’s not certain where the name came from— theories range from the Seven Sacraments to the Seven Hills of Rome—and the scope of dishes is vast. Picture a platter
of baccala, or salted cod, swimming in a sea of side dishes, from clams casino to calamari stuffed with seasoned bread crumbs. The mix of seafood varies from year to year, but the celebratory sentiment remains the same.
“We try to time it just right. A week before Christmas is too early for most people. A few days before is better,” she says. 1717 Marsh Road, Wilmington, Del., (302) 479-7999, vmbistro.com.
Because clams, oysters and mussels are highly perishable, restaurateurs agree timely shopping and a willingness to play it by ear are essential in securing ingredients for seven-fishes menus. Buy too soon and you could wind up wasting food. Wait too long, and you could miss out on limited supplies.
At Mama Maria’s Italian Restaurant in Milford, owners Salvatore and Franco Laragione evaluate the seafood that’s freshest and best on the market before coming up with a holiday menu of dishes. Franco spreads the word to patrons in posts on the restaurant’s Facebook page. 945-A N. Dupont Blvd., Milford, Del., (302) 422-2661, mamamaria.com.
At Piccolina Toscana, a contemporary Italian bistro in Wilmington’s Trolley Square, chef-owner Dan Butler’s annual La Vigilia (literally, “The Vigil”) repast has made Christmas Eve one of the most popular nights of the year. Sometimes, demand is so great that Butler schedules two seven-fishes events. Based on menus from the past decade, patrons can expect such nibbles as oyster fritters with horseradish cream and arugula with fried smelts dressed with toasted almonds
and pomegranate. 1412 N. DuPont St., Wilmington, Del., (302) 654-8001, piccolinatoscana.com.
Want to dine out on the holiday? Sullivan’s Steakhouse in North Wilmington will be open 11 a.m. to
8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Christmas Day, when the restaurant will offer a special prime rib dinner. Sullivan’s will serve broiled lobster tail and dry-aged long-bone rib-eye throughout the holidays.
5525 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Del., (302) 479-7970, sullivanssteakhouse.com.
16 todaymedia.com I December 2022